Understanding Networked Music Communities through a Practice-Lens: Virtual 'Tells' and Cultural Artifacts

The paper investigates how practice-based studies can provide a lens for understanding the life of virtual communities. The domain of investigation is music interpretation lessons as conducted using the DIAMOUSES system for networked music performance. The practice-based framework proposed is built around two notions: technology inscribed structures and cultural artifacts appropriated or enacted. Qualitative analysis of interview data makes useful inroads to understanding what members are actually doing in virtual space and how their actions, reactions and social encounters are manifested or revived through the musiccommunity's virtual `tells' or remains.